Throughout Mary Oliver’s poem “The Journey”, she repeatedly uses the word "voices" (Oliver, 3).  In the poem the voices are used to represent people.  The two main voices are the negative voices of people trying to hold the narrator of the poem back in life, and the positive voice of the narrator, which saves a life in the poem.  By looking at “The Journey” the reader can see how the use of the voices demonstrates how some people will try and hold others back in life for their own good. 

Two of the more important uses of the word voices are found in the first eleven lines of the poem.  In the third line of the poem the voices are shouting their bad advice at the narrator. And in the tenth and eleven lines the voices are crying, "Mend my life!" (Oliver, 10) at the narrator.  In both of these instances we can see how the voices are a negative thing.  These voices are holding the narrator back.  In the first occurrence of the word, the voices are shouting their bad advice.  Two interesting words here are "shouting" (Oliver, 4) and "kept" (Oliver, 4).  These describe the voices as much more assertive rather than passive.  The word "shouting" details the aggressiveness while "kept" establishes the fact that these voice are a continuous thing.   In the lines preceding "bad advice" (Oliver, 5), Oliver declares the "whole house began to tremble" (Oliver, 6-7).  This demonstrates the power the voices have, reestablishes their aggressiveness, and begins to show them as frightening.  Next Oliver says, "You felt the old tug at your ankles" (Oliver, 8).  Now the voices have become physical, which adds to their aggressiveness. And the voices are demanding, "Mend my life," which illustrates that the voices are attacking the reader. We know now the purpose of the aggressiveness was for the narrator to assist in the lives of these voices.  The use of the word “mend” shows this isn’t some little fix either.  The voices are asking the narrator for a great deal and they intend on getting the help of the narrator through intimidation.  

In the middle section of the poem Oliver describes a transition period.  Lines twenty-three through twenty-six are describing the beginning of moving beyond the voices. The idea of “little by little” (Oliver, 23) shows this can be a long process.  Ridding yourself of such negativity will not come quickly.  In the next line the narrator is leaving the voices behind and moving on. This is establishing the idea of movement which is very important in this poem. In the first eleven lines words like "house", and "the old tug at your ankles" are used to show a lack of movement.  Movement is an essential part of life; someone who is unable to move is much less likely to live comfortably and happily.  The next line states “the stars began to burn” (Oliver, 25).  This is a really well placed and strong analogy.  Here the star is beginning to burn which is what stars are supposed to do.  Similarly, the narrator is able to be who they need to be without the voices holding them back.  Also like movement, “burn” connects with heat, which is literally necessary for living.  These burning stars burn so powerfully that they can be seen “through sheets of clouds” (Oliver,26).  The clouds can be seen as a haze, or something preventing the narrator from immediately seeing the light, or the stars in this case.  This middle section of movement between the voices is very important as the narrator begins to describe living the life they are supposed to live.

At the end of the poem, we once again see the word voices.  However, here the word is found singularly as the word voice.  This voice is described as the voice that replaces the voices since the narrator was able to leave them behind.  Oliver says this new voice is one you recognize as your own.  The "s" is dropped for a reason, which is to signify that this new voice is alone.  This is important in that the single voice would seem not to stand a chance against the aggressive and assertive voices.  In the poem, that is not the case.  This voice is here to keep the reader company.  Already the readers know that this voice is a positive since it is actually benefiting the narrator, something the voices never did.  This voice allows the reader to "strode deeper and deeper into the world" (Oliver, 31).  The idea of movement is important here once again as it is establishing movement, with the new voice.  The use of the word "world" here represents vastness and worldliness, and can be compared to the much more confining word "house" that the voices use.  The poem then ends with "determined to save the only life you could save" (Oliver, 35-36).  This connects back to the voices saying "mend my life."  The narrator can only control his or her life, they cannot hold up and mend the lives of others - especially when it prevents the narrator from living and moving on in life.

Mary Oliver’s goal in “The Journey” was to describe a part of the journey of life. A part in which others will hold you back - for their good, and at your expense.  She talks about the need to leave these voices behind, because ultimately freedom from these voices will allow you to achieve more in life. The reoccurrence and use of the words voices and voice is used to demonstrate this aspect of life.  The word voices is used instead of simply "people," to dehumanize the acts of those trying to hold you back.  The poem also shows that the positive voice comes from within you, and is not a person itself.  The voices are negative and associated with physical, and assertive aggression. The voice, although by itself, is much stronger helpful voice, that holds the narrator up and saves the narrator’s life.
